Francisco Buarque de Hollanda, better know as Chico Buarque, is a Brazilian… Read Full Bio ↴Francisco Buarque de Hollanda, better know as Chico Buarque, is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer, playwright, writer and poet. He is best known for his music, which often includes social, economic and cultural reflections on Brazil.

The firstborn son of Sérgio Buarque de Hollanda, Buarque lived at several locations throughout his childhood, though mostly in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Rome. He wrote and studied literature as a child and found music through the bossa nova compositions of Tom Jobim and João Gilberto. He performed as a singer and guitarist in the 1960s as well as writing a play that was deemed dangerous by the Brazilian military dictatorship of the time. Buarque, along with several Tropicalist and MPB musicians, was threatened by the Brazilian military government and eventually left Brazil for Italy in 1969. However, he came back to Brazil in 1970, and continued to record, perform, and write, though much of his material was suppressed by government censors. He released several more albums in the 1980s and published three novels in the 1990s and 2000s.

In 2019, Buarque was awarded the Camões Prize, the most important prize for literature in the Portuguese language.

Passaredo
Chico Buarque Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ei, pintassilgo
Oi, pintaroxo
Melro, uirapuru
Ai, chega-e-vira
Engole-vento
Saíra, inhambu
Foge, asa-branca
Vai, patativa

Tordo, tuju, tuim
Xô, tié-sangue
Xô, tié-fogo
Xô, rouxinol, sem-fim
Some, coleiro
Anda, trigueiro
Te esconde, colibri
Voa, macuco
Voa, viúva
Utiariti
Bico calado
Toma cuidado
Que o homem vem aí
O homem vem aí
O homem vem aí

Ei, quero-quero
Oi, tico-tico
Anum, pardal, chapim
Xô, cotovia
Xô, ave-fria
Xô pescador-martim
Some rolinha
Anda andorinha
Te esconde, bem-te-vi
Voa, bicudo
Voa, sanhaço
Vai, juriti
Bico calado
Muito cuidado
Que o homem vem aí

O homem vem aí
O homem vem aí

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chico Buarque's song Passaredo (bird) showcases his appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the bird species found in Brazil. The song is composed of a list of bird names that doubles as a warning for them to take shelter and hide from the men who are coming. Through this song, Buarque brings to light the dangers of urbanization and modernization that are threatening the natural habitat of these birds.

The first part of the song has Buarque calling out bird names such as pintassilgo, uirapuru, asa-branca, and inhambu. Each bird name is followed by a phrase that either describes its behavior or advises it to run and hide. For example, "engole-vento" (wind-swallow) suggests that the bird should quickly move to a safer place while "foge, asa-branca" (run away, white-wing) indicates that danger is approaching. The second part of the song lists names of different species such as quero-quero, anum, pardal, and chapim. The message is the same - take care, hide, and be vigilant, as man is coming to disrupt their lives.

Passaredo is a poignant song with a deeper message beyond just a tribute to birds. It serves as a reminder to people of the damage they are causing to the environment and that they need to take better care of their planet. Buarque's use of metaphors and imagery is vivid and powerful, which effectively conveys the urgency of the situation.

Line by Line Meaning

Ei, pintassilgo
Hey, goldfinch

Oi, pintaroxo
Hi, purple finch

Melro, uirapuru
Blackbird, uirapuru bird

Ai, chega-e-vira
Oh, it arrives and spins around

Engole-vento
It swallows the wind

Saíra, inhambu
Saíra bird, inhambu bird

Foge, asa-branca
Run away, white-winged bird

Vai, patativa
Go, patativa bird

Tordo, tuju, tuim
Thrash bird, tuju bird, tuim bird

Xô, tié-sangue
Shoo away, blood-colored bird

Xô, tié-fogo
Shoo away, fire-colored bird